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Cedros fire victims seek help

Natasha Paul, left, her husband Johnny Lalloo and their children Natalia, Narin, and Jessica, among the ruins of their home at St Marie village, Cedros which was destroyed by fire on Monday.

Unable to understand that her home was destroyed by fire, four-year-old Natalia Paul kept crying and begging her mother and father to carry her home.

Natalia, her sister, Jessica, 14, brother Narin, 11, and their parents, Natasha Paul and Johnny Lalloo, were left homeless on Monday when a fire destroyed their two-bedroom concrete and wooden house at St Marie Village, Cedros.

The cause of the fire which took place around 4.10 pm has not yet been ascertained. The family had just left their home to go for an evening drive.

Apart from the clothes they were wearing, the family lost everything as their house and everything in it were burnt to the ground.

With nowhere to go, the family sought refuge at a neighbour’s home and slept on three mattresses donated by Cedros councillor Shankar Teelucksingh on Monday night.

“I thought when I woke up this morning it would just be a dream. But everything burn, we have nothing. I cannot cope with this,” said Natasha, 37.

She said their children were heartbroken.

“My little daughter, she will turn five in June, she only crying because she wants to go home. She crying for her book bag and shoes, everything,” said the mother.

She said a pundit has offered to buy school books for one of her children but she has no clue when her children will be returning to school. Jessica attends Cedros Secondary, Narin goes to Cedros Anglican while Natalia still attends preschool.

Employed as a cook with the Ministry of Education’s school feeding programme, Natasha said she too cannot return to work because she has no clothes or shoes. Her husband is self-employed as a construction worker.

Natasha said apart from the assistance from the councillor, who also gave them two tarpaulins and three blankets, she said people donated some rice, sugar and clothes for the children.

Natasha’s husband estimated their losses to be approximately $175,000. Anyone wishing to assist the family can contact them at 274-2476 or 296-8288.